Sports Estates Programme
On site drop-in football sessions are established for estates with particular problems of deprivation identified through the steering group containing Community Safety Partnerships, Youth Offending Teams and other partners to the project.
The football sessions are provided as structured coaching sessions, football fun games, football fitness and small-sided matches. The sessions aim to work as a diversionary activity helping to keep young people off the streets and out of trouble. They normally takes place in the evenings. However, the football sessions have the flexibility to cater for age ranges, time demands and facilities available. Where facilities are not available on site the project will arrange a suitable venue nearby in the community.
The project aims to establish a competitive structure on each estate and, where possible, estate leagues are organised to allow young people from different estates to play regular matches against each other. Opportunities are being provided for the estate teams to represent their club in inter tournaments with the other clubs within National Positive Futures Project.
In addition to the football sessions, competitive matches, trophies, certificates, tournaments and leagues, the project offers young people the added prizes of stadium tours, training ground visits and tickets to matches and promotional give-aways from project sponsors as rewards for good behaviour and improvements in education grades and attendance at school. Partners within local authorities within Kingston and funding agencies are making use of these as incentives to reduce crime and improve educational standards and behaviour.
Education to Employment Programme
The project is being developed and will be underway in January 2006 to improves basic skills and provides opportunities for young people (aged 16+).
Aiming to gather young volunteers to obtain specialist F.A recognised football coaching qualifications- as well as general Sport qualifications leading to employment opportunities in the football, leisure and recreation industry.
The qualifications will also empower local community to continue the work of the project when the project needs to move on to other areas of need. The project provides young people, parents, youth workers and volunteer’s opportunities to obtain:
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The Football Association Junior Football Organisers Certificate (JFO). The minimum age is 14. The course duration is 7 hours. As part of the course assessment the young person has to organise a Festival of Football event
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1st4sport Level 1 Club Coaches Certificate. The minimum age is 16 years. The course duration is between 24 to 48 hours. The qualification will enable coaching of young people from 7 to 16 years
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The Junior Sports Leaders Award (JSLA). The minimum age is 14 years. The course duration is 30 hours
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The Community Sports Leaders Award. The minimum age is 16 years. The course duration is 30 hours
Case Study
Gary got involved in the first cycle of the 3-on-3 league. As a participant, Gary initially had a hard time in controlling his temper and frustration. Nevertheless, he was a regular to the sessions which lasted for 6 weeks at a time. His first main achievements came when he won the ‘Most improved player’ award, from there he became the captain of the Seniors 7 a-side squad. He travel to Dover in the squads first major Tournament and came back with the winners trophy.
Following from this, Gary has been through a ‘Back to employment’ training- involving preparing a CV, developing interview techniques/skills. And attended work experience with Positive Futures.
Gary was always been very keen to do alternative positive activities away from his old habits of offending and disruptive behaviour. Since his initial engagement with Kingston Positive Futures, Gary unfortunately was incarcerated for pervious convictions from 18 months ago.
However was allowed early release on probation, and is now back onto Positive Futures attempting to achieve a FA Level in Coaching and achieve a two weeks work experience with Fulham FC Community Sports Trust.
Young Women’s Development Programme
The project aims to increase participation by young women - initially providing female only taster sessions in schools and estates - with a view to setting up weekly coaching sessions. The programme is open to all young women to attend and will also target young women from minority ethnic groups. So far the programme has seen a young women’s Dance group, development peer leaders and performing arts sessions.
Over a period of time the project will look to develop female leagues and ‘Themed Based’ programmes. The programme links into initiatives developed through the women’s development programmes in order to deliver a co-ordinated service and achieve maximum benefit for communities.
If your interested in any aspect of Positive Futures, please contact The Fulham FC Community Sports Trust on 0208 336 7573 or Joanne Barton, Project Co-ordinator at jbarton@fulhamfc.com| (077969 27742)